MacroEconomics said:
Any chance we can get support for multiple processors in Nappy:EU3? For many of us have the extra CPU cycles on tap and ready to go.
Vlad_Dracula said:
Your multi core processor does this automatically with every piece of code it executes, the only thing extra that can be done by the programmers is to optimize the code for even greater efficiency.
This is not true. Multi-core processors can NOT automatically split up the execution of every piece of code between its cores. Only the software developer can do this by writing multi-threaded software. EU III can only run on a single core.
Vlad_Dracula said:
I have hoi2 installed on a laptop with a 1.7ghz core 2 duo, and the same game runs about 3 times faster on the laptop than on my desktop pentium 3.4 ghz, because the dual cores in the core 2 duo are automatically splitting workload.
There are reasons why your laptop runs faster other than the fallacy that its multi-core processor automatically executes EU III on both of its cores. The first is that the Core2 Duo processor is more efficient than the old Pentium IV processor. A Core2 Duo running at a lower clock speed can outperform a Pentium IV running at a higher clock. The actual performance difference, of course, depends on the actual clock speeds and the particular software.
Second, even though EU III can only run on a single processor core, other things can run the other core. This includes parts of windows and the 3D graphics drivers that EU II is using. Also other “back-ground” processes will use the second core. Thus EU III will get a higher percentage of a processor core on a multi-core processor than on a single core processor.
Lastly, your laptop probably has some better components than your older desktop. It may have more or faster RAM. It probably has a newer chipset which is faster and possibly has a faster FSB.
Vlad_Dracula said:
If the game was optimized for multiple cores it would run even faster. So in a sense you're right, they should optimize for multiple cores, as these games are cpu intensive and many people have dual core or more processors.
Unfortunately, modifying software to utilize multiple processor cores is not an easy task. Even writing a program from scratch to be multithreaded is more difficult, time consuming and costly. It is also "bleeding edge" technology for game developers. I very much doubt that Paradox has the resources to do this now.
Ask yourself this, would your rather have Paradox speed its limited time and resources on patching existing games to utilize multi-core processors or would you rather have them work on new games, expansion packs, and enhancements to existing games?
